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State deposit dispute guide

Hawaii Landlord Kept Security Deposit for Carpet Cleaning

If your Hawaii landlord kept part of your security deposit for carpet cleaning, the dispute usually turns on whether the charge reflects ordinary turnover cleaning or unusual dirt, stains, odor, or damage.

Deadline: 14 daysPenalty multiplier: Up to 3xItemized deductions: RequiredStatute: Haw. Rev. Stat. Section 521-44
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The law in plain English

Return deadline

Under Haw. Rev. Stat. Section 521-44, the deposit response usually has to be sent within 14 days of the move-out timeline described by the state rule.

Required notice

Hawaii generally caps the deposit at 1 month's rent, and the landlord usually has 14 days to send the refund and itemized statement; bad-faith withholding is where the treble-damages exposure matters most.

This dispute type

Hawaii renters usually push back on carpet-cleaning deductions when the landlord appears to be charging for routine turnover rather than a tenant-caused problem. The timing, itemization, and bad-faith rules still matter even when the landlord says the carpet needed extra work.

Penalty leverage

If the withholding was wrongful or in bad faith, the exposure allowed under the statute is: Bad faith: you can recover up to treble (3x) the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees and court costs

FAQ

Common questions renters ask

Can a Hawaii landlord charge for routine carpet cleaning?

That is often the first issue renters dispute. A charge tied to ordinary turnover is easier to challenge than a charge tied to unusual filth, staining, odor, or repair work.

Does the landlord still have to send an itemized list?

Yes. The notice and timing rules under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 still matter even if the landlord claims carpet cleaning was necessary.

What proof helps challenge a carpet-cleaning deduction?

Before-and-after photos, cleaning records, and proof the carpet was already old or worn are usually the most useful documents.

What if the landlord missed the return deadline too?

A missed 14 days deadline can improve your leverage because the dispute becomes about both the deduction itself and compliance with the statute's timing rules.

Keep reading

Free tier

Use the free intake before you escalate the dispute.

Compare your timeline, deduction notice, and the landlord's stated reason against the state-specific rule set first.

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Not legal advice - jurisdiction-accurate legal research